Torpedo-boat.



PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908.

B. A. NILSEN.

TORPEDO BOAT.

No. 883,664. PATENTE'D MAR. 31, 1908.

E. A. NILSEN.

TORPEDO BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28 1905.

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UNITED srar is rarnnr oFFIoE.

ERNST ALFRED NILSEN, OF CHRISTIANIA, NORWAY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BERNARD GRAFTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TORPEDO-BOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 31 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST ALFRED NIL- SEN, a subject of the King of Norway, residing in the city of Christiania, in the Kingdom of Norway, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo-Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear,.and exact description of the invention,"

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in torpedo boats, and it relates more especially to means for conveying and for launching the torpedoes.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

Figure l is a side elevation of the improved boat. Fig. 2 shows a centralvertical section, parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan view, parts being broken away. Fig. 4 shows a section along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, but on a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows a section along the line 6*6 of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail showing one of the torpedoes in the magazine tube. Fig. 8 shows a section along the line 88 of Fig. 7, and looking in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 9 shows a section along the line 99 of Fig. 7, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

A represents the body of the boat, which is preferably a double ender having screws B at each end, and steering rudders C.

DD are the diving rudders, E the weighted keel FF are the immersion tanks, G the motor, and H the immersion control. These parts just named are briefly described herein in order to show the complete boat, but form the subject matter of a separate application of even date Serial No. 280,522, filed September 28, 1905, the claims of this application being confined to the torpedo conveying and launching apparatus, which will now be described.

I and I are two torpedo launching tubes, one in the bow and the other in the stern of the boat, which are normally open to the water outboard, but which may be rovided with suitable shutters of any wel .known type, if desired.- These torpedo launching tubes register with one of the tubes in the rotary drum or torpedo magazine K. This drum is, journaled on the shaft 7c in the bearings L at one end and in the bulkhead M at the other end. There is one of these magazines at each end of the boat, but the operation of the two is precisely the same. These magazine drums are shown as provided with a plurality of tubes N, which open through the head K of the magazine K, which head K is provided with a flange engaging the packing m beneath the annular flange m on the bulkhead M, and thus a substantially water tight joint is made. The rear end of each of these tubes is closed by a gate N hinged as at n and closed by any suitable device, as a butterfly nut n. These gates l are preferably provided with bulls-eyes n so that the operator may ascertain from inspection whether the tube contains the torpedo or not.

The magazine drum K is rotated in any convenient way, as by means of the worm rack O, which meshes with the worm P driven by a hand wheel Q--and suitable gearing, as shown in Fig. 6. Suitable indexes are provided by means of which the operator can ascertain when each tube N registers with the corresponding torpedo launching tube I or I, as the case may be. At the side of each tube N, I provide a casing N with which the hand rod R is mounted, which rod is preferably provided with a handle 1", see Fig. 7. This rod has secured thereon a holding fork or clamp S, and also carries a pivoted fork or clamp S, which is pivoted to the lug s carried by the rod R.

T represents a torpedo which is provided with the usual starting arm t, and the clamp S is slotted as ats, see Fig. 8, to permit the passage of this starting arm t therethrough.

In order to charge the magazine the drum K is rotated so that the tube being charged does not register with the launching tube, when the gates N may be opened and the torpedoes inserted. During the insertion of the torpedoes the hand rod R is in the position shown in Fig. 7. When the torpedo is pushed forwards it will rock the forward clamp S about the point 91 as a fulcrum, causing this clamp to bear down hard on the torpedo, which will tilt its nose downward slightly causing the clamp S to engage. These two clamps will hold the torpedo firmly in position regardless of any rotation of the magazine K. In order to fire the torpedo the hand rod R is drawn rearward, which will draw the clamp S clear of its engagement with the shell of the torpedo. At the same time the clam S will strike the starting arm at, which wil start the engine of the torpedo and, when the torpedo tube registers with the launching tube, the torpedo, being water borne, will pass out of the launching tube under its own motive power, and without any impulse from extraneous power. After once being launched the torpedoes will be guided by the well known gyroscopic steering gear. It will be obvious that all the torpedoes in the magazine may be fired seriatim in rapid succession.

There is purposely provided a slight leakage space between the head K of the magazine drum K and the bulkhead N, so that the tubes N will be all normally filled with water, with which the torpedo is surrounded, and when the torpedo has been launched, from any one or more tubes the water will flow in to take up the space lately occupied by said. torpedo; and since the specific gravity of the torpedo is practically the same as that of the water of flotation, the magazine will be practically balanced, and may be turned on its axis without the expenditure of any large amount of power. The slight leakage through any one of the open gates while the magazine is being charged will be of no moment, and will not materially interfere with either the charging of the magazine, or the immersion of the-boat.

It will be obvious that the number of torpedo tubes or chambers in the magazine may be varied at will, but in practice this should be symmetrically disposed about the axis so as to facilitate the rotation of the magazine.

It will be obvious that various modifications might be made in the herein described apparatus, which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a torpedo boat, the combination with a torpedo launching tube opening outward through the hull of the boat, of a rotary magazine drum provided with a plurality of torpedo tubes or chambers adapted to register seriatim with said launching tube, means for rotating said magazine drum, and a hand rod adjacent to each chamber provided with a fixed yoke and a pivoted yoke for clamping said torpedo in said chambers and for releasing the torpedo from said chamber when desired, substantially as described.

2. In a torpedo boat, the combination with a torpedo launching tube opening outwards through the hull of the boat, of a rotary magazine drum provided with a plurality of torpedo chambers adapted to regis ter with said launching tube, hand operated means for rotating said drum, and hand operated means for releasing said torpedoes from said chambers when desired, comprising a hand rod with a yoke pivoted thereto and adapted to bind against said torpedo when in its forward position, and to engage the starting arm of the torpedo when drawn rearward, substantially as described.

3. In a torpedo boat, the combination with a torpedo launching tube opening outward through the hull of the boat, of a rotary magazine drum provided with a plurality oi torpedo tubes or chambers adapted to register seriatim with said launching tube, means for rotating said magazine drum, and means for holding the torpedo in and releasing it from its magazine chamber, comprising a hand rod, a yoke fixed thereto and adapted to engage the rear body of the torpedo, and a yoke pivoted to said hand rod and adapted to engage the forebody of said torpedo, and to strike the starting arm of the torpedo when said hand rod is drawn rearward, substantially as described.

4. In a torpedo boat, the combination with a fixed torpedo launching tube opening outward through the hull of the boat, of a rotary magazine drum provided with a plurality of torpedo tubes or chambers adapted to register seriatim with said launching tube, worm gearing for rotating said magazine drum, and. means for holding the torpedo in and releasing it from its magazine chamber, comprising a hand rod, a yoke fixed thereto and adapted to engage the rear body of the torpedo, and a yoke pivoted to said hand rod and adapted to engage the forebody of said torpedo, and to strike the striking arm of the torpedo when said hand rod is drawn rearward, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ERNST ALFRED NILSEN.

Witnesses:

HENRY BORDEWICH, MrcnAEL ALGER.

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